Fox Has a Problem (I Can Read! My First: Shared Reading)

PreS-Gr 1--Everyone's favorite fox is back, but this time Fox has a big problem: his kite is stuck in a tree! As the humorous illustrations suggest, this is not an isolated incident. Fortunately, Fox has no shortage of ideas to solve this conundrum. Unfortunately, these would-be solutions only create more problems for Fox and his forest friends, including flooding Bear's cave with leaves and kites and blocking Rabbit from leaving his burrow. With tempers running high, Elephant proposes a resolution that leaves everyone happy and flying kites while enjoying each other's company. The engaging text, which is ideal for new and emerging readers, features common sight words and repetitive phrases. Tabor's signature pencil and watercolor illustrations are as charming as ever, with a cast of appealing characters engaged in comical antics. VERDICT A welcome and valuable addition to any early reader collection, sure to be popular with fans of the series in addition to newcomers.--Olivia Gorecke

"This comical early reader, expressed in understated sentences and simple vocabulary, will charm youngsters; they'll giggle at Fox's outlandish "big ideas" and the havoc they wreak. Onomatopoeic sound words heighten the fun. Caldecott Honoree Tabor's wry illustrations are muted, set against uncluttered backgrounds, allowing kids to focus on the characters and the humorous proceedings. Children will have no problem enjoying this delightfully witty book." — Kirkus Reviews

"Tabor is skilled at letting a controlled vocabulary and tight sentences play it straight while his illustrations bring the comedy. Short statements that lean on sight words and repetition read like wry commentary on Fox's antics, which are made plain in Tabor's colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations. Readers [will] be giggling in anticipation of exactly how badly this is all going to end." — The Horn Book